Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries commits to Memphis, Penny Hardaway

Team Penny forward D.J. Jeffries (middle) poses with extended family members at his home in Olive Branch, Miss. Jeffries, a five-star recruit, is ranked as one of the best players in the Class of 2019.(Photo: Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal)Buy Photo

Jeffries played for Hardaway's Team Penny AAU club in 2017 and reneged on his commitment to Kentucky in July. He is the only recruit to decommit from the Wildcats during coach John Calipari's tenure.

“It’s a big relief off my shoulders because I had so much stress trying to pick the right college and the right choice for me, so I chose Memphis because I trust Penny and I already have a good relationship with everybody on the team," Jeffries said. "I just felt like it was the right fit and it felt like family.”

Last month Jeffries' father, Corey Jeffries, said although Hardaway has been close to the Jeffries family for a long time, Hardaway recruited his son as if he was any other heavily prioritized prospect.

“The pitch is: 'Why leave when you have everything right here?'” Corey Jeffries said in reference to Memphis' in-home visit. “Ole Miss is only an hour away, but we live 20 minutes from Memphis’ campus.”

Memphis assistant coach Tony Madlock had been recruiting Jeffries since the eighth grade. Prior to this season, Madlock spent the last four years as an assistant coach at Ole Miss.

"(Madlock) has always been trying to get me at Memphis," Jeffries said. "When he was at Ole Miss, he was trying to get me to Ole Miss. And now he finally gets to coach me. He always told me he was going to coach me and now he gets a chance to.”

The versatile 6-foot-7 wing is a skilled player around the basket, and will likely be used at multiple positions for the Tigers next season. ESPN rates Jeffries as a five-star recruit, and the No. 21 overall prospect in the country. He is considered a 4-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports.

Mississippi State became Memphis' biggest competition for Jeffries since his decommitment from the Wildcats. The Bulldogs, along with Ole Miss and Alabama each received an official visit by Jeffries and visited him in Olive Branch multiple times.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Buy Photo

Team Penny forward D.J. Jeffries dunks in front of a poster of his basketball idol, Golden State Warriors All-Star Kevin Durant, during a game against Nike Team Florida at the 2017 Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Olive Branch head coach Eri Rombaugh and D.J. Jeffries (0) await their gold medals in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. Chris Todd, For Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) grabs the Class 5A trophy while holding his outstanding player award in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. Chris Todd, For Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) dunks against Forest Hill in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. Chris Todd, For Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) celebrates his three pointer against Forest Hill in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. CHRIS TODD/Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's Kelvin Allen receives the Class 5A trophy in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. Chris Todd, For Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) gets a high five at the bench after a time out was called in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. CHRIS TODD/Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) jumps over a crowd to catch a high past to the low post against Forest Hill in the finals of the MHSAA C Spire State Basketball Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Miss., on Friday, March 9, 2018. CHRIS TODD/Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) looks to passes against Canton during a Rumble in the South MLK Classic high school basketball tournament game on Monday, January 15, 2018, at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss. CHRIS TODD, CHRIS TODD

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) dunks against Canton during a Rumble in the South MLK Classic high school basketball tournament game on Monday, January 15, 2018, at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss. CHRIS TODD/Special to the Clarion Ledger

Canton's Sebbron Carter (23) tries to score against Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) during a Rumble in the South MLK Classic high school basketball tournament game on Monday, January 15, 2018, at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss. CHRIS TODD/Special to the Clarion Ledger

Olive Branch's D.J. Jeffries (0) rebounds against Canton during a Rumble in the South MLK Classic high school basketball tournament game on Monday, January 15, 2018, at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Miss. CHRIS TODD/Special to the Clarion Ledger

Team Penny forward D.J. Jeffries (middle) poses with extended family members at his home in Olive Branch, Miss. Jeffries, a five-star recruit, is ranked as one of the best players in the Class of 2019. Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Team Penny forward D.J. Jeffries (left) is fouled while driving for a layup against All Ohio Red defender Vincent Williams (right) during their 2017 Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Prior to Saturday, Mississippi State had landed the top player in the Mississippi — a title Jeffries holds — each of the past four years.

Jeffries joins East High star Malcolm Dandridge, who also played for Hardaway, in the Tigers' 2019 recruiting class. Once Jeffries signs with Memphis during college basketball's early signing period, which is Nov. 14-21, he would become the highest-rated prospect to join the Tigers since Dedric Lawson in 2015.

Jeffries also happens to be cousins with the Lawson brothers.

Hardaway said earlier this month he was confident he would get another 2019 commitment before the end of the early signing period.